Sunday, December 7, 2008

Aflac Takes the Lead in Keeping Employees Happy

Aflac Health Insurance takes pride in maintaining a reputation as one of the best in providing quality career-enhancement courses to their employees. Seeing their workforce build careers within their walls using the resources and knowledge provided by the company itself is very validating for the executives at this company.

Top training magazines in the industry rank Aflac Health Insurance in the range of 33amongst the other best corporations which provide career development to their employees. They have improved a great deal even from their high standing last year, moving up about 13 spots. In order to reach this status in a listing, businesses who believe they are a solid competitor for such an honorable mention have to complete a survey which includes everything from coaching from executives, leadership development, various training and diversity programs as well as employee orientation.

Aflac Health Insurance has a program which is specifically designed for management within the company. This program includes training and learning in the form of activities and discussion in an offsite location. They also offer a program which is available for high school students to increase their knowledge and skills when entering and striving for careers in the insurance field. This is a very big advantage for students looking to enter into the workforce who have no previous experience, as it can really give those with motivation a leg up in the field and a focus and direction for their own career path.

Amongst the many competitive educational opportunities for their employees in the form of professional development training, Aflac
Health Insurance incorporates a setting in which other outsiders from the company can also be educated on various topics. Typically discussions are facilitated over lunch, thus making the name, “Lunch and Learn courses.” People who benefit from these luncheons are typically people who wish to learn more about budgeting and saving money or buying a home for the first time. Students wishing to apply for a degree for the first time or even apply for tuition-assistance with school may also benefit from sessions offered by the company.

Naturally, this focus and dedication to its employee’s continued education and knowledge base makes Aflac Health Insurance a force to be reckoned with in the business of insurance where there is a large span of competition. In addition, when providing the right tools and attention to employees, they are often more successful in promoting the company and in turn will likely have less turnover as a whole.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

AARP Auto Insurance – Securing our Seniors

As Senior Citizens in our country are feeling pressured to reduce costs as much as possible to be able to survive on their fixed income, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is the leader in helping to restore financial security to seniors by offering low-cost options for auto insurance to its members.

AARP offers both Auto and Homeowners insurance, provided by The Hartford, to their members. Membership in AARP is costs a maximum of $12.50 per year, less if you enroll for more than one year at a time, and the only requirement is that members must be 50 years of age or older.

Seniors will find that the premium rates through AARP Auto Insurance are lower than through other insurance carriers, because the policies are only offered to seniors, and rates are not affected by other age groups who drive more frequently or are less experienced drivers and therefore would result in more claims which would increase the premium rates for everyone insured.

AARP offers many benefits in their auto insurance policies that simply are not available with typical plans. Some of the advantages that seniors will receive by insuring through AARP are outlined below:

12 Month Fixed Premium Rate

Most insurance policies are premium rated on a 6 month basis, meaning the cost of your insurance has the potential to increase every 6 months. AARP’s policies are rated for a full year, giving seniors the advantage of being able to budget their income more effectively, knowing they have an additional 6 months per year of fixed cost on auto insurance.

Annual Deductible Reduction

With a continued good driving record, AARP will reduce the deductible on seniors’ auto insurance by $150, and then by $50 per year thereafter, without causing premium rate increase, until their deductible is $0.

Forgiveness of First Accident

With a clean driving record for previous 5 years, seniors will be secure in knowing that if they are in an accident, on the first occasion, their premium rate will not increase.

New Car Value Protection

If a senior purchases a new car, insures it through AARP, and is involved in an accident in the first 15 months or 15,000 miles resulting in a total loss of the vehicle, AARP will replace the vehicle with a brand new vehicle, identical to the one lost, with all the same features and options, with no depreciation.

These value advantages is what makes AARP the right choice for seniors needing auto insurance.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Why the Insurance Company you Choose Matters

Each year many employees and those who are self-employed have to make a decision about which Health Insurance company they will use. Many wonder if it really matters at all. They get overwhelmed by all the information available and in the end choose whatever rate looks the cheapest. This is usually a big mistake and could even be fatal.

You see, the insurance company you choose does matter. It matters when you want to choose which doctor to see. It matters when you want to control out-of-pocket expenses. It matters when you need to be sure your prescription drugs are going to be covered. And if, God forbid, you get into a serious accident or develop a life-threatening disease—it really matters.

Having a health insurance company like
AARP Health Insurance on your side can make all the difference in the world. You have a much better chance of being able to see the doctor you choose because more doctors accept AARP Health Insurance than any other health insurance in the world. AARP offers more coverage, more choices and more flexibility than most plans as well. It is usually the first name a person thinks of when they hear the term health insurance because it is the most recognizable name in the industry.

Your health is important. You can't enjoy life without good health. Having good health insurance allows you to feel confident about your health care options and makes you more likely to stay healthy because people with good health insurance are more likely to do things like get annual check-ups which helps you stay in tune with your health. AARP not only provides superior health insurance coverage, they offer superior peace of mind.

Whether you participate in an employer based plan or purchase your own health insurance through an agent or online, get some reasonable insurance quotes and take all of the important factors into consideration when choosing your health insurance provider. Chances are if you weigh all the factors out, AARP Health Insurance will come out on top.

Why do Health Insurance Premiums Rise?

Few people realize how much health care really costs in the United States today. Costs have skyrocketed on everything from routine tests to prescription drugs to emergency room visits. Many people, who have had insurance over the years have abused their health care coverage and had many expensive tests and procedures that may not have been necessary ,but thinking that they were "free" consented to or even asked for unnecessary procedures. Another way that insurance coverage has been abused is with expensive brand-name prescriptions.

Did you know that a generic prescription is identical to the brand-name, but generally costs about one-third the price?
Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance has become educating people that this type of abuse raises health care costs for everyone because insurance premiums are based on the amount of money the insurance company has to pay out in medical costs each year. Expensive unnecessary trips to the emergency room or paying the higher price for prescription drugs raises the price for everyone involved. Every person regardless of the type of medical insurance they have, including Blue Cross Blue Shield should begin taking a more active role in reducing medical costs and keeping premiums low.

Other ways to keep the cost of health insurance low include staying healthier by watching your diet and getting enough exercise. Overweight is one the biggest contributors to health problems and so by keeping your weight healthy you are less likely to experience devastating and expensive health problems like heart disease, adult onset diabetes and high blood pressure. Maintaining reasonably priced health insurance with a provider such as
Blue Cross and Blue Shield can also help you by covering routine doctor visits such as a yearly physical which will also help prevent serious health problems.

Health insurance premiums may go up now and then, but by taking a few precautions such as using the emergency room only for emergencies and opting for generic drugs whenever possible, you can help keep them at a reasonable level. Taking proper advantage of your insurance coverage through a provider like Blue Cross Blue Shield in maintaining your health will also help keep premiums lower.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Auto Insurance Quotes

Everyone wants to save money, and auto insurance is one place people continually look to cut costs. It is easy to get auto insurance quotes online and from insurance companies on the phone and locally. With so many easy ways to get an auto insurance quote you may be tempted to switch companies to get a better deal. But before you decide on an auto insurance company based on their quotes think about these considerations.

An auto insurance quote is just that, only a quote. The price you are quoted is not necessarily the actual auto insurance price you will pay once the policy is finalized. It is important to make sure the insurance company you are considering has all the relevant and accurate information they need to issue an actual price for coverage.

When you get an
auto insurance quotes make sure you give accurate information. Don’t withhold details of your credit history or driving record because auto insurance companies check these and use them to determine the price of your coverage. You should also give the correct VIN number of the vehicle as using a generic one for a quote can also affect the final price you pay. The quote you get is only as accurate as the information you supply the insurance company.

You should also consider the terms and fine print that come along with your quote. The quote you get may be for a policy with higher or lower deductibles than you want, different levels of coverage, or have other terms that will affect the price of your actual policy. Make sure you know exactly what terms, coverage, limits, and deductibles are included in your policy so you are not surprised later.

Everyone wants to save money but you should not let the auto insurance quote alone be the determining factor when you choose an auto insurance company. Choosing an auto insurance company that has reliable customer service and spending a few more dollars on coverage might be worth it. Likewise, going with a company who has a reputation for not increasing coverage over time or who offers other benefits such as accident forgiveness and agood driver rate reductions may also be worth a few dollars more in the beginning
.

Friday, September 26, 2008

5 Things You Should Know Before Shopping for Family Health Insurance

Shopping for family health insurance can be tricky because each person will need different types of care. Kids will need a very different type of care than adults need and they will need a lot more of it. If you’re getting ready to shop for family health insurance here are 5 things you should know before you start shopping:

1. There are two kinds of health insurance for families. You can choose from group or individual coverage for families. If you have someone in your family that has a serious medical condition and you choose group insurance your rates could go sky high, so consider carefully which type of insurance is the right kind for your family.

2. Learn as much as you can about the different types of insurance plans for families. There are 4 main types of insurance plans for families: HMOs, PPOs, POS’, and HSAs. With that many options you should have no trouble finding one that is a good fit for your family but make sure that you study all the options before you pick one so that you know you’ll be getting high quality family health insurance at a price you can afford.

3. Consider the price of the co-pay – The co-pay that you choose can have a huge impact on the cost of your annual premium. So while an adult might be able to handle high co-pays on routine doctor visits once or twice a year to keep annual premiums low a child will need to see a pediatrician regularly and having a high co-pay might make regular visits too expensive. When you are choosing a family health insurance plan make sure you think about how often each member of the family will need to see a doctor when you’re choosing a co-pay.

4. Talk to an insurance specialist – If you have a lot of children of different ages. If you have a child that has a medical condition that makes it too expensive to get insurance for the whole family talk to an insurance specialist before you buy family health insurance to find out what your options are and what the most affordable family health insurance is for your family.

5. Ask your family and friends what insurance plans they use – Other parents that you trust are always a great source of information. When you have questions related to your kids or taking care of your kids. Ask your family and friends what family health insurance plan they have and whether or not they are happy with it. Recommendations from family and friends are a great way to find family health insurance and can result in savings for both of you if the company offers a referral rewards program.

5 Tips for Choosing Health Insurance Plans

When it comes to choosing health insurance plans most people would rather do just about anything than sort through the thousands of options available and try to figure out which health care plans offer affordable but thorough coverage. But if you’re willing to spend a little time and effort clarifying what you need from a health insurance plan and searching for low priced options you can save a lot of money on medical insurance plans. Here are 5 tips to help you choose from the thousands of health insurance plans that are out there:

1. Look locally – Even though companies all over the country can insure you where that company’s main office is located can impact the price of the coverage that they offer. Your best bet when it comes to finding local health insurance, which can be a lot cheaper, is to look on your state’s website. The state website should have an entire section devoted to insurance which will help you find a local, affordable health insurance plan.

2. Decide exactly how much coverage you need – Picking and choosing your coverage can make a big difference when it comes to price. If you really want to keep costs down then just get insurance to cover major illnesses, accidents, or other serious problems and pay for your routine visits and lab tests out of pocket. That will end up costing more at the time of the service but overall will cost you less.

3. Use an insurance broker –Just like using an insurance broker to compare many different
auto insurance plans can save you a lot of money on your car insurance using an insurance broker to compare health insurance plans can save you a lot of money on your health insurance. If you are confused about health insurance plans and aren’t sure how to pick the right one for your then go through a broker to make sure that you get a good deal on the coverage you need.

4. Consider starting a Health Savings Account – If regular health insurance plans seem too expensive or if your are generally very healthy and just want to protect yourself in case of an emergency then you should think about starting a Health Savings Account instead of buying insurance. A Health Savings Account is money put aside specifically for health related problems. Many banks offer special interest rates and other perks for these types of accounts. Putting even a couple of hundred dollars in a Health Savings Account regularly can give you all the money you need to feel protected if you were to have a health emergency.

5. Ask for a free trial period – Many insurance companies will let you try out a health insurance plan for free but if your plan doesn’t offer a free trial ask for one. Most likely the free trial won’t be really free, you will still have to pay up front but if you don’t like the plan you can cancel it and get your money back. This is a good way to see how much coverage you really have and if you like the doctors that are approved by that particular company.